I am new to this site. I have finally after being diagnosed one year ago thought of joining a support group. I have gained wt since I started getting sick with severe pain and fatigue. I am taking plaquenil and after 6 months on treatment I have more energy. I was very active in the summer 2011 and fit, I also work fulltime as an ER nurse with two young kids.
I have started back to the gym and crossfit training. I am also seeing a nutrionist to assist in weight loss.
After 3 weeks of steady working out and clean diet I am not dropping weight. Is this part of lupus. I am quite distressed about this
I believe it is part of Lupus. I had a gastric bypass 11 years ago and lost 75lbs, which I maintained easily all this time - until I started having symptoms. At first it was just 5 lbs which I attributed to being a newly wed. Then it was 15 lbs. It has fluctuated with the decrease in appetite and I've noticed this week since I've been home, I've dropped about 5lbs. My doctor put me off work for 3 weeks for a ruptured achilles tendon. I'm home doing less, and I really don't have much of an appetite. I've been on plaquenil for 5 months and the swelling is decreasing.
Don't give up, and don't get discouraged. We have a member who lost 63 lbs and counting. If you search in the upper right hand for " I am 63 lbs lighter" by Roni, you can see it is possible.
I think it would be great to have a group to support each other with our efforts, if we have enough interest?
This is a good question. I have been wondering if it was the Lupus that was causing my weight gain. I only joined this group yesterday and already I have found a wealth of information.
I too have gained around 25 pounds in the last 2 years. I have tried Weight Watchers and exercise and I just can't seem to lose any weight. Depressing when you give it your best try!
Weight loss or weight gain is a symptom of lupus. We have members on both sides of the fence. I think both are just as frustrating to us depending on which we have. The swelling has a lot to do with the weight gain.
About 5 years ago, I was having alot of trouble of course it was labeled as depression and put on anti deppressants. But I lost about 10-15 pounds, but I really didn't mind. :) It was nice fitting in to everything. But yes, I feel so bloated all the time it drives me nuts.
I take a diuretic daily, and I've had days that I was so bloated, I took an additional pill to help with it. I lost 5 lbs, but of course it came back, but its a routine thing for me now.
I have been on steroids for over twenty years and yeah most of the medications can cause weight gain in certain individuals. I eat as healthy as I can. But the joint pain makes it difficult to work out and maintain a normal body weight. Talking to a nutritionist is a step in the right direction. Looking at work outs that you can do without hurting your body is also a grand idea just dont be in a hurry. The body of a Lupus patient reacts differently than a "normal" person. Be kind be patient and you will get there. God Bless XXOO
1. Hypothyroidism. This is a condition where the thyroid gland, located in the neck, produces too little thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone regulates our metabolism. So too little hormone slows the metabolism and often causes weight gain. If your doctor suspects thyroid disease as a cause of your obesity, he or she may perform blood tests to check your hormone levels.
2. Cushing's syndrome. This condition results when the adrenal glands (located on top of each kidney) produce an excess amount of a steroid hormone called cortisol. This leads to a build-up of fat in characteristic sites such as the face, upper back, and abdomen.
3. Depression. Some people with depression overeat, which can lead to obesity.
4. Kidney, Heart or Liver Disease - Disease in these organs can cause fluid retention, which appears as general puffiness all over the body, especially the eyes and ankles.
5. Blood Sugar Imbalance - Eating simple, refined carbohydrates can cause rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels. For example, eating chocolate increases the amount of sugar in the blood. The hormone insulin is released which causes sugar to be stored away and blood sugar levels to be lowered, which can trigger cravings for more sweets in order to stabilize blood sugar balance.
"The Diseases below in the link cause rapid weight gain"
I see my GP next week. I am going to get my Cortisol levels checked. I am already on Eltroxin and Rheumatology checked my levels this week, along with my kidney functions. I am going to talk to my GP about the premarin.
I dont over eat thats another issue, I dont eat a lot during the day, I dont have much of an appetite which doesnt make sense why I am gaining weight. It should be the other way around.
Your welcome plus it helps other member's who are in the same situation.
Now how you don't eat much i'm the same just 3 meals a day and 7 turkish delight slices daily as i have low sugar, so i have them to keep it around 4.0
This is what the doctor's can't understand about me i'm 5ft 8" tall and weigh 9st, all my meds i take otherwise for my other illnesses make you gain weight and they have told me i should be looking like an elephant and come winter i can go as low as 8st but all i can put it down to is the lupus causing mine and regarding my gland it as it's moments of going hypo then i lose more weight but the dr can't ulta my thyroxine because the amount i'm on runs steady in my blood stream and now the plaquenil ontop that causes weight loss besides.
All this goes against me though and the weight loss because i get very cold badly and having anaemia ontop i get drained out...roll on next month for my b12 jab.
I weighed 1year ago 130lbs and lean, and now I weigh 170lbs. This has been the most devastating to me. I worked so hard to be fit and all it took was getting sick to undo all the hardwork I did to achieve my physical wellness. I am determined to get this weight off.
It must be terrible for you going from just over 9st to 12st that's what your lbs work out as, if you don't mind me asking what's your height against your weight.
You need to see your dr like you said and sort things out there as issues like this can get you down bad which you don't need one bit.
Roni a member on here did diet and she did well and if i was you i'd send a pm to her and ask what she did as she keeps her weight down now...here's Roni's discussion she did.
I know how you feel. I worked with a personal trainer and lost 14#'s not nearly at much as I wanted, but it was a start. Then all of a sudden the fatigue lack of interest achiness set in and I sat on the couch and gained it all back plus some. The bloating etc, its so frustrating. I don't feel hungry much, but I wish I didn't have to eat at all....
Nurse93 said :
I weighed 1year ago 130lbs and lean, and now I weigh 170lbs. This has been the most devastating to me. I worked so hard to be fit and all it took was getting sick to undo all the hardwork I did to achieve my physical wellness. I am determined to get this weight off.
I do feel for both you and Charmaine because when you've worked hard to keep yourselfs fit and then something hits you and knocks the whole mechanisum out of shape it's enough to get anyone down.
If you try again you may get there though and feel alot better in your achievement as it's not stopping charmaine as she's so determind to get it sorted out.
Kira! WE can do this. Its going to take hard work and determination! I look at every workout as kicking lupus. I have only recently come to the realization that I have Lupus, Lupus will not control me.
I have been down because I have gained this weight, and it sits in my thoughts everyday, but I am determined to be fit again, it may take time but I will do this.
I made an unrealistic goal of doing a Crossfit Competition but the risk of injuring myself was too great.
So I am going to do a triathlon in 2 years. I love cycling and swimming, and I have met a running trainer to teach me how to run.
We should start a discussion/support for getting fit and losing weight. Getting fit physically and mentally.
We can do this!!!! We are going to have our ups and downs but we have a huge Lupus family to lean on.